Friday, October 31, 2014

FORT MEADE, Md., Oct. 31, 2014 – Service members overseas
serving in support of Operation Inherent Resolve are eligible for the Global
War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Pentagon officials announced today.

The award is retroactive to June 15, when President Barack
Obama ordered U.S. forces to the region in response to offensives by the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq.

At the invitation of the Iraqi government, American troops
went to the country to assess Iraqi forces and the ISIL threat.

Jessica Wright, the undersecretary of defense for personnel
and readiness, signed a memorandum authorizing the award today.

Immediate Recognition

The award provides immediate recognition to U.S. service
members supporting efforts to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat
it poses to Iraq, the region and the wider international community, Pentagon
officials said.

In addition to Iraq, service members deployed to Bahrain,
Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are eligible. Those serving in the
Mediterranean Sea east of the 25th meridian and in the Persian Gulf also can
receive the award.

Service members who already have received the award for
prior service do not receive another award or a battle star, officials said.
About 8,400 service members are in the qualifying Operation Inherent Support
area today.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel
thanked Albanian Defense Minister Mimi Kodheli during a Pentagon meeting
yesterday for her leadership in Albania's support to the Iraqi government in
the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

In a statement summarizing the meeting, Pentagon Press
Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby noted that Albania has played a leading
role in the international effort underway to resupply Iraq's Kurdish forces
with ammunition and equipment.

“The leaders [also] discussed Albania's defense reform
efforts, including the Albanian officers who recently graduated from the New
Jersey National Guard Officer Candidate School,” Kirby added. “They agreed to
continue to work together on building Albanian capacity for training and
education.”

Kodheli highlighted the Albanian Defense Ministry's efforts
to modernize the country’s armed forces with NATO-standard weapons, and she
encouraged U.S. defense investment in Albania, the press secretary said.

Hagel noted Albania's support to the International Security
Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, the admiral said, and thanked Albania
for its commitment to the post-2014 Resolute Support mission there.

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 31, 2014 – U.S. military forces continued
to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria yesterday
and today, using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct four airstrikes, U.S.
Central Command officials reported.

Separately, officials said, U.S. and partner-nation military
forces conducted four airstrikes in Iraq yesterday and today, using fighter and
remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists.

In Syria, four airstrikes near Kobani damaged four ISIL
fighting positions and an ISIL building. In Iraq, airstrikes near Fallujah and
Bayji struck small ISIL units. An airstrike near Qaim destroyed an ISIL
checkpoint and an ISIL vehicle, and an airstrike north of Tikrit struck a large
ISIL unit and destroyed three ISIL-occupied buildings.

All aircraft left the strike areas safely, Centcom officials
said, noting that airstrike assessments are based on initial reports.

The strikes were conducted as part of Inherent Resolve, the
operation to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose to
Iraq, the region and the wider international community.

The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further
limits the terrorist group’s ability to project power and conduct operations,
officials said.

Among the coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq
are the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Denmark
and the Netherlands. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include
the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Bahrain.